Aug 28, 2013

03:20 PM

Arika Kane, the Voice of VH1's 'Hollywood Exes,' Brings Her R&B to Toad's Place in New Haven

By Douglas P. Clement

(page 2 of 2)

The Hollywood link aside, Kane stresses in reference to her work with BSE, “We’ve been doing everything from the ground up; we’re financing everything, doing everything.”

“It couldn’t have happened any other way for me,” she said. “I see so many careers, so many artists, completely lose their way, even though there’s a machine behind [them] … Even though it’s going to take longer for the world to see me, when they do see me I will be who I am.”

And that’s a good thing. Blessed with a magnetic beauty and a sweet, pure voice that wraps sincerity around her ballads, love songs and R&B takes on the emotional complexities of life, Kane connects because she keeps it real.

She assures those who turn out at Toad’s that the show will involve much more than her standing on stage and singing—as riveting as that would be. “We have so many moving parts,” she said. “It’s an overall great presentation of who I am as an artist and the music I represent.”

That music, and the woman performing it, represents a vow to cling to integrity. “I’m almost fighting what’s out there,” Kane said. “There’s just so much music that’s demeaning to women. … I’m going to keep the element of substance in everything I do. If I go in a different direction, it will be more R&B, more blues, more natural.”

“I think the fans are crying for that kind of music.”

It all started with “Bcuz I Luv U,” Kane’s first single, which was released in 2009.

CD Baby, the bio says, named Arika Kane as “one of the hottest new up-and-coming artists to hit the music scene.”

Turning to her Connecticut roots, the bio says, “Growing up in a small rural town in Connecticut, Kane’s parents were both singers & musicians. They enjoyed gigging on the weekends as they had to pursue jobs during the week to support Arika & her brother. Kane became familiar with the joy & passion for music early on, and started singing at 10 years old. Influenced by her father’s songwriting, Kane also connected with her songwriting ability later on & is now very proud to be co-writer on each song off of her current debut album.”

“I was blessed to grow up in a loving town,” Kane said on the phone. “I’m really excited to be back in my home state [performing].”

Her final thought: “Please come down this Thursday, Aug. 29. It’s going to be an amazing dynamic show; lots of surprises and lots of really good music.” Tickets are available here. They are $12 in advance and $15 the day of the show in this 14+ concert.